The US President and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar military action against Bogotá, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
